ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq discussed matters of forging deeper re
lationship with Azerbaijan, Egypt and Sri Lanka in separate meetings with their envoys on Thursday.
He called for diversification of trade and economic re
lations to assign substantive meanings to bilateral cooperation.
Speaking to Ambassador of Azerbaijan Ali Alizada, he remarked that Pa
kistan’s quest for regional outreach to Central Asian Republic attaches paramount importance to vitality of its re
lations with Azerbaijan. He added that both the countries have extended unflinching support to each other at various international forums on the issues of Kashmir and Nagorno Karabakh respectively.
Reiterating Pa
kistan’s commitment to enhance bilateral re
lations, Ayaz underlined the need for diversification of trade, economic and parliamentary re
lations to assign substantive meanings to bilateral collaboration. He said that both the countries have commonalities of views and perceptions on various regional and international issues. The speaker stressed the need for enhancing cooperation between the legislatures of brotherly countries.
Alizada appreciated Pa
kistan’s gesture of friendship with Azerbaijan and the political
leadership of Azerbaijan is committed to strengthen its ties with Pa
kistan. He
also reciprocated Azerbaijan’s commitment to an enduring, comprehensive, diversified and warm re
lations with Pa
kistan manifested in trade and economic dividends for both nations. The envoy
also called for instilling new vitality in inter-parliamentary re
lations.
Separately, in a meeting with Ambassador of Egypt Sherif Shaheen, the speaker said Pa
kistan and Egypt cherish warm bilateral re
lations deeply rooted
in religious, cultural affinities and aspirations to play a role to address divisions within the Muslim world. He informed the dignitary that Pa
kistan seeks to play a larger role to prevent Muslim world’s descent into factions, violence, instability and underdevelopment. Ayaz underlined the need for comprehensive engagement between the two countries in areas of reforms in education, strengthening democratic institutions and promoting genuine human development. The Speaker
also invited his Egyptian counterpart to visit Pa
kistan with their parliamentary delegation.
Shaheen acknowledged Pa
kistan’s endeavours for promoting unity among the Muslim nations and expressed his hope that Pa
kistan and Egypt will continue to partner for a stable, peaceful and progressive Muslim world. He endorsed Ayaz’s proposal for collaboration to promote sustainable patterns of governance and assist each other in institutional building for effective governance.
Later, talking to High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, Ayaz appreciated Pa
kistan-Sri Lanka re
lations based on mutual interest and aspirations for a peaceful South Asian region. The speaker highlighted that Pa
kistan highly count on friendly re
lations with Sri Lanka in its quest to promote peace in the region and strengthen cooperation within the SAARC. He reiterated Pa
kistan’s commitment to facilitate people-to-people contacts and enhance parliamentary engagement with Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan High Commissioner Jayanath Lokuketagodage said Sri Lanka attaches great value to its re
lations with Pa
kistan and will continue to partner with Pa
kistan in diversification of trade and economic re
lations. He remarked that Sri Lanka shares Pa
kistan’s concern for equitable growth and sustainable development in South Asian region.